Staff
The Center for Emergency Programs employs over 60 instructors and care providers. Our instructors are among the best in the field, meeting or exceeding local and national certification requirements. We are constantly recruiting new instructors. We draw instructors from many response agencies along the Wasatch Front. Many of these instructors also provide mentoring and internships within their agencies. If you have experience both in the classroom and in the field along with a passion for EMS education, please contact uucep@utah.edu for information on instructing for us. We look forward to hearing from you.
In addition to regular instructors, we also employ several lab instructors to assist in teaching over 500 “non-professional” students per year in first aid, CPR, and disaster preparedness. Many of these teaching assistants are students who have completed our first aid instructor course and apprenticeship. If you are interested in becoming a TA, please contact the Program Director, Les Chatelain, at les.chatelain@utah.edu.
Revised: 06/2016
Administration
Les Chatelain
Program Director
Phone: (801) 581-4512
Email: les.chatelain@utah.edu
Les has taught EMS related classes for over 30 years. He has worked with publishers to develop textbooks, videos, computer programs, and workbooks. In addition, he also develops web-based education programs and supports technology in the classroom. His motto is “If it’s not fun, it’s not learning.”
Program Coordinators
Connie Holder
Coordinator of EMT Programs
Email: c.holder@utah.edu
Connie is responsible for coordinating and instructing the EMT courses. She has worked both on an ambulance and in an emergency department in various positions over the last decade before coming to the University of Utah to teach. Connie has a Master’s of Science in Health Promotion and Education focusing on injury prevention in EMS. She is a certified EMT-Intermediate. When not teaching, Connie tried to get outdoors for hiking and camping with her family.
Andy Rich
Coordinator of Remote Rescue Training
Email: andy.rich@utah.edu
As the Coordinator of Remote Rescue Training, Andy develops curriculum in addition to overseeing the remote rescue technician certification courses. With 15 years experience as an outdoor educator, whitewater guide, mountain guide, and industrial rescue and rigger, Andy specializes in managing groups in technical and hazardous settings. He is an avid climber, skier, and boater with many international expeditions under his belt. Andy has extensive hands-on experience with wilderness rescues in whitewater, mountain, and winter environments as an improvised first responder rescuer and through organized rescue team efforts. Andy also likes to make learning fun and teaches with both the curriculum and student needs in mind. He has two BA degrees and is certified by the American Mountain Guides Association.
Mike Ditolla
Coordinator of EMS training for Law Enforcement
Email: mike.ditolla@utah.edu
As the coordinator of EMS training for Law Enforcement, Mike oversees educational programs for law enforcement officers and EMS personnel who support tactical operations. Mike has experience as an EMS provider in a variety of capacities. In addition to urban EMS response, he specialized in wilderness medicine and technical rescue. Mike has provided patient care in a variety of austere environments ranging from high mountain rescue to leading expeditions through arid desert wilderness. Mike has been teaching wilderness medicine and technical rescue skills since 2000. Mike now applies his skills providing patient care in austere environments as a paramedic / law enforcement officer. Mike has served in the capacity of: Paramedic Patrol, Canyon Patrol, SWAT Operator, Paramedic Tactical Rescue Unit (PTRU) team member. Mike is a Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine, earned his BS from the Pennsylvania State University, a MS from the University of Utah and is currently a PhD candidate (ABD) with emphasis in EMS education at the University of Utah.
Shelly Beck
Pre EMS and Community Education
Email: shelly.beck@hsc.utah.edu
Shelly Beck has been teaching pre-hospital medical courses in the community and on the University level for 16 years. Shelly received both her Bachelors of Science and Masters of Science degrees in Health Promotion and Education, emphasizing in Emergency Medical Services education from the University of Utah. Shelly is also a supervisor for the Event Medical Response division of the Center for Emergency Programs.
Chris Startford
Coordinator of AEMT programs and EMS Training Officer
Email: Chris.Startford@health.utah.edu
He teaches EMS courses for the University of Utah, Department of Health, Kinesiology and Recreation. He currently teaches the Advanced EMT Training, the Medicines, Drugs and EMS Course, and Pathophysiology for EMS Providers. His background is in emergency nursing and mass gathering and event medical services. He supervises the medical response to events around campus including football games, basketball, games, gymnastics, and concerts. During the last five years he has consulted on education and written curricula for EMS providers, nursing and ancillary healthcare staff in India and Nepal. He also manages the Utah State Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival at the University of Utah, Division of Emergency Medicine where he coordinates the data collection and dissemination of cardiac arrest data through the national CARES program. He is a BLS, ACLS, and PALS instructor and AHA Regional Faculty.